As a seasoned canine proprietor, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming two Dachshund puppies into my life – Summit and now, the latest addition, Otter.
The primary week with a brand new furry member of the family could be each exhilarating and difficult, however with the proper strategy, it will also be an extremely rewarding expertise.
I’m sharing my private journey with my most up-to-date pet Otter, the teachings I’ve realized, and the information I’ve gathered in hopes of creating your personal Dachshund pet’s transition a easy one.
Word: This weblog publish was edited from this video transcript, nevertheless it supplies extra info and embellishments.
Navigating the Airport and Flight with a Pet
Bringing Otter house from Kansas Metropolis to our house in Washington state concerned a flight, which gave me just a little nervousness.
He was sufficiently small to journey in an accepted airline canine provider beneath the seat, however I wasn’t certain how his newly-formed ears would deal with it and if he would bark and howl.
Otter proved to be a real champ all through the journey although.
Regardless of a one-hour flight delay, which posed a possible potty coaching problem, Otter managed to carry his bladder and bowels all the time, not making a single mess in his crate.
I used to be impressed by his calm demeanor, as he solely fussed just a little throughout the touchdown, seemingly as a result of air stress adjustments.
I’ve flown with two of my different canines earlier than and realized that my fears had been unfounded – they actually impressed me – however, nonetheless, I get a bit nervous each time I fly with a brand new canine.
Using these ideas for flying with a canine actually helped.
Introducing My Pet to My Pack
One of many largest worries folks appear to have is introducing their pet to the established pets in the home.
In my case, since I dogsit and my Dachshunds are used to accepting a rotating forged of characters, I took a extra relaxed strategy.
If a canine has been an solely canine for years and is used to being the focus, introductions could be extra delicate.
In each instances, in my expertise, I believe it’s greatest to simply convey the pet into the home and not using a large fuss.
The distinction will likely be how carefully it’s good to supervise the older canine and the pet, in addition to how lengthy it might take your established pets to just accept her or him.
As an alternative of the standard impartial territory introduction, I merely introduced Otter into our house and let the canines sniff and get acquainted at their very own tempo.
Brodie, one of many canine sitting shoppers who was with us and was going to be for an additional few weeks, took on the position of Otter’s playful companion.
Brodie’s light nature and Otter’s eagerness to discover resulted in a budding friendship that warmed my coronary heart.
Nonetheless, not all the pack members had been as welcoming. Gretel, my 14-year-old senior Dachshund, maintained a impartial stance, tolerating Otter’s occasional makes an attempt at cuddling however gently correcting him when he was too pushy.
Summit, my five-year-old, moody Dachshund was a bit tougher.
There have been just a few resource-guarding incidents the place she snapped at Otter over meals.
That is an space we’re actively engaged on, as I try to make sure a harmonious and secure atmosphere for all my furry members of the family.
Word: Otter has been with us for five months now and all the canines know their place and get alongside effectively.
Potty Coaching and Early Coaching Efforts
Potty coaching is at all times a high precedence for me when welcoming a brand new pet, and Otter has been doing remarkably effectively.
As a work-from-home canine mother, I used to be in a position to take him out continuously, and strictly observe my confirmed potty coaching protocol.
He rapidly realized to go potty exterior.
The one hiccup we encountered was a single incident the place Otter refused to go exterior after which instantly relieved himself indoors.
It simply served as a reminder for me that consistency and endurance are key in the case of potty coaching.
I didn’t get mad at him, simply calmly cleaned up the mess with a paper towel (no cleaner at first), and positioned it exterior so he might scent himself the subsequent time we went out.
5 Ideas for a Easy Pet Transition
Primarily based on my experiences with two puppies – Summit and now Otter – I’ve compiled 5 important ideas to assist make the primary week with a brand new Dachshund pet successful:
1) Take into account Your Pet’s Sleeping Preparations
The choice of whether or not to permit your Dachshund pet to sleep in your mattress from the beginning or to crate practice them can have a major influence on their attachment and separation nervousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that might not be the most effective strategy for everybody.
Should you suppose you might have considered trying your pet to finally sleep in a crate, it’s vital to begin crate coaching early to keep away from difficulties down the road.
Actually, Otter’s breeder instructed me to have Otter sleep in his crate at night time for the primary 6 months.
I questioned this and she or he stated I might do what I needed, however she suggests this so {that a} canine first learns to sleep alone in a crate in case you ever want them to do it once more after permitting them into your mattress.
For sure, I didn’t hear. However wanting again, it most likely was a very good tip.
Summit will go sleep in her crate on her personal generally, and I admit it’s good to have a canine that’s okay sleeping away from me.
I can really feel extra comfy if she must be in a crate if she suffers a again harm and has to undergo a crate relaxation interval.
2) Begin Instructing Your Pet to Be Alone Proper Away
Puppies are tremendous cute. They’re infants that depend upon us and could be very unsettled as a result of they’ve simply left their mother and the one phrase that they knew.
Nonetheless, there’s a stability between offering consolation and stability and coddling to the purpose your pet develops hyper-attachment.
I instantly began educating Otter that he wouldn’t die if I wasn’t proper there.
I primarily did this by placing him in his pen/crate with a pure chew, lick mat, or meals meting out toy to maintain him busy whereas I took a bathe or washed some dishes.
I attempted to return again earlier than he was completed and began to fuss.
In the course of the first week, that didn’t give me a lot time away, however I plan to increase that period of time as he feels safer.
3) Don’t Attempt for Perfection
Elevating a pet is a studying expertise, and it’s vital to be form to your self. Resist the urge to attempt to do every little thing completely from the beginning.
In the course of the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to concentrate on the necessities like educating Otter his title, potty coaching, socialization and confidence constructing, and bonding with him.
A canine can be taught obedience and tips at any age, however in case you miss the important socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work at the least twice as arduous to attain it later…. And you might by no means get to the place you may have been in case you had began from day 1.
When it’s time to begin engaged on obedience, the primary issues I’ll educate him are sit, in your mat (place), go away it, and are available to me once I name.
4) Set up a Routine
You’re most likely heard this recommendation again and again for a Dachshund pet – you need to set up a routine instantly as a result of canines like predictability.
Whereas I’ve usually agreed with this perception, one thing about it didn’t sit fairly proper with me. Particularly as a result of our life is something however routine, but my canines had been thriving.
Actually, I believe my Dachshunds are calmer and deal with change higher exactly as a result of I don’t observe a routine.
However then it hit me – I believe it’s attainable to have routine even in a life that’s chaotic and at all times altering.
To me, I like to think about routine as a unfastened schedule. Some stage of predictability is critical. And boy, there are specific issues my Dachshunds certain received’t let me neglect!
Two issues that I contemplate a predictable routine are:
- The weenies eat twice a day, usually round 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
- The canines at all times sleep with me (or an individual), it doesn’t matter what time that’s or the place we occur to be.
I additionally contemplate “routine” to be a trigger and impact conduct… once I do A, I would like my canines to do B.
I make money working from home, so an instance of this might be that once I sit at my desk, it doesn’t matter what time of day that it’s, I would like the canines to settle and maybe fall asleep.
To me, establishing a routine is extra about setting expectations and attempting to remain as in keeping with these as attainable, moderately than having a structured time schedule for every little thing (though if that’s your jam, that’s okay too).
5) Educate Your Pet to Settle
As soon as, once I was lamenting that I couldn’t get any work achieved with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group supplied this recommendation:
“Probably the most vital jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, it’s good to educate them when it’s time to play and be lively, and when it’s time to settle or entertain themselves (with one thing secure).”
A lightbulb went off in my head. What?? I truly try this? This idea was an absolute game-changer for me.
Instructing my puppies to settle has allowed me to keep up my very own productiveness whereas nonetheless offering him with the eye and care he wants.
My older canines already knew this routine, however Otter was having a tough time catching on, even when Summit snarked at him for disrupting her magnificence sleep.
I put Otter’s crate close to my desk and closed him inside with a pure chew once I sat in my chair and he began to catch on fairly rapidly.
Last Ideas
Welcoming a brand new Dachshund pet into your life is a really particular expertise, nevertheless it’s additionally a major endeavor.
By studying from my very own journey and implementing the following tips, I’m assured that you may navigate the primary week along with your new furry buddy with larger ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the hot button is to be adaptable, affected person, and keen to be taught alongside your new companion.
Get pleasure from this particular time, and take a look at different articles on my weblog for extra ideas.
